Further Information

Aculeates are a difficult group to identitify, even from specimens, but these are usually needed for certain identification, at least until you're reasonably expert with the group.

Aculeates tend become rigid on death. To get relaxed specimens for setting, kill in the freezer then leave overnight.

Specimens should be set with the legs pulled down away from the body to facilitate examination of the sides of the thorax. Try to ensure the leading edges of the hindwings are hooked onto the trailing edges of the forewings, as they are in life. The wings can be left in the vertical position, or positioned so they are flat, but should not be allowed to obscure the upper surface of the abdomen. Ideally, the jaws should be held open as the number of teeth is often important.

Photographic hints

Like Calyptrate flies, Aculeates tend become rigid on death. To get relaxed specimens for posing for focus-stacked photography, kill in the freezer then leave overnight.